This thesis focuses on the problem of optimizing the quality of network multimedia services. This problem spans multiple domains, from subjective perception of multimedia quality to computer networks management. The work done in this thesis approaches the problem at different levels, developing methods for modeling the subjective perception of quality based on objectively measurable parameters of the multimedia coding process as well as the transport over computer networks. The modeling of subjective perception is motivated by work done in psychophysics, while using Machine Learning techniques to map network conditions to the human perception of video services. Furthermore, the work develops models for efficient control of multimedia systems operating in dynamic networked environments with the goal of delivering optimized Quality of Experience. Overall this thesis delivers a set of methods for monitoring and optimizing the quality of multimedia services that adapt to the dynamic environment of computer networks in which they operate.

This book discusses harnessing the real power of cloud computing in optimization problems, presenting state-of-the-art computing paradigms, advances in applications, and challenges concerning both the theories and applications of cloud computing in optimization with a focus on diverse fields like the Internet of Things, fog-assisted cloud computing, and big data. In real life, many problems - ranging from social science to engineering sciences - can be identified as complex optimization problems. Very often these are intractable, and as a result researchers from industry as well as the academic community are concentrating their efforts on developing methods of addressing them. Further, the cloud computing paradigm plays a vital role in many areas of interest, like resource allocation, scheduling, energy management, virtualization, and security, and these areas are intertwined with many optimization problems. Using illustrations and figures, this book offers students and researchers a clear overview of the concepts and practices of cloud computing and its use in numerous complex optimization problems.

This book covers various algorithmic developments in the perfect reconstruction cosine/sine-modulated filter banks (TDAC-MDCT/MDST or MLT, MCLT, low delay MDCT, complex exponential/cosine/sine-modulated QMF filter banks), and near-perfect reconstruction QMF banks (pseudo-QMF banks) in detail, including their general mathematical properties, matrix representations, fast algorithms and various methods to integer approximations being recently a new transform technology for lossless audio coding. Each chapter will contain a number of examples and will conclude with problems and exercises. The book reflects the research efforts/activities and achieved results of the authors in the time period over the last 20 years.

Wireless Information Highways provides an excellent introduction and balanced coverage of the most important topics related to the methodologies developed to support data management in asymmetric communication environments. This book is based on a number of self-contained chapters and provides an opportunity for practitioners and researchers to explore the connection between various computer science techniques and develop solutions to problems that arise in the rapidly emerging field of wireless networks.

This book presents different perspectives of online business education - how it is designed, delivered and how it supports advances in management disciplines. The authors describe online platforms in their provision of timely, excellent and relevant business education. The book starts by examining the emergence of online business education. It offers insights for use to business educators in design and implementation of online learning. It presents and discusses technologies for class facilitation and collaboration including tools used to bring content and issues to life. Disruptive approaches and new directions in online business education are examined. The book is ideal for business educators, administrators, as well as business practitioners that have an interest in delivering high quality business education using online platforms and tools. On the Line: Business Education in the Digital Age is divided into three sections. Section 1 presents papers on "why" business education is viable and sustainable in today's context. Treating education as a service, this section describes new techniques for creating a better online business education experience. It also looks at the role advanced data analytics can play in enhancing the quality of online business education. Section 2 delves into "how" online business education works. It presents conceptual models for teaching in specific disciplines, learning design that describes what business educators do and how programs work. This section also addresses performance assessments and quality assurance measures that help to demonstrate the efficacy of online pedagogy. Practical applied papers are used in this section to highlight the use of learning platforms, tools and their application specific to businesses that build knowledge and skills and make students 'work ready'. Finally Section 3 of the book addresses the "so what?" or the outcomes and impacts of online business education. This section targets where business education needs to take learning next, for example to support sustainable business, ethical decision making and inclusive and collaborative leadership. Chapters deal with topics such as how distributed online environments may work better to support knowledge and soft skill building directly relevant for organizations today. Other learning outcomes showing the value of online business education are discussed. Academics, alumni and consultants from over fifteen institutions and organizations around the world contributed to this book.

Theory is considered to be the bedrock of academic research, often being viewed as the foundation upon which scientific enquiry is organized and built. Despite its ubiquity throughout information systems research, there is much that remains unknown about theory. The Handbook of Research on Contemporary Theoretical Models in Information Systems provides a comprehensive overview and coverage of various theories, models, and related approaches used within information systems research. A defining collection of field advancements, this Handbook of Research offers examples and descriptions of real-world applications of various theories based on empirical studies.

This book covers the basic principles for understanding radio wave propagation for common frequency bands used in radio-communications. This includes achievements and developments in propagation models for wireless communication. This book is intended to bridge the gap between the theoretical calculations and approaches to the applied procedures needed for radio links design in a proper manner. The authors emphasize propagation engineering by giving fundamental information and explain the use of basic principles together with technical achievements. This new edition includes additional information on radio wave propagation in guided media and technical issues for fiber optics cable networks with several examples and problems. This book also includes a solution manual - with 90 solved examples distributed throughout the chapters - and 158 problems including practical values and assumptions.

Some Obstacles on the Road to ATM; D. Abensour, L. Felton. Electropolitical Correctness and High Speed Networking, or, Why ATM Is Like a Nose; D. Stevenson. An Overview of the ATM Forum and the Traffic Management Activities; L. Gun, G.A. Marin. Communication Subsystems for High Speed Networks; D.N. Serpanos. SMDS and Frame Relay; J.P. Bernoux. ATM Systems in Support of BISDN, Frame Relay, and SMDS Services; P. Holzworth. Approaching BISDN; C. Bisdikian, et al. On Transport Systems for ATM Networks; M. Zitterbart, et al. XTP Bucket Error Control; S. Fdida, H. Santoso. Congestion Control Mechanisms for ATM Networks; D.S. Holtsinger. Highly-Bursty Sources and their Admission Control in ATM Networks; K. Sohraby. A User Relief Approach to Congestion Control in ATM Networks; I. Stavrakakis, et al. Space Priority Buffer Management; D. Tipper, et al. 4 additional articles. Index.

An in-depth analysis of how the Fortune 1000 companies have dealt with the strategic use of computers and communications, what applications have been successful and which have faltered, and how upcoming technologies will provide the foundation for a new generation of strategic applications.

Modern military coalition operations rely on the ability of multiple independently developed networks to function cohesively, allowing information collected by different sources to be transmitted, analyzed, processed, and provided to troops involved in tactical operations. Network Science for Military Coalition Operations: Information Exchange and Interaction presents an advanced view of this delicate and vital operation. However, an understanding of the science behind coalition operations can benefit not just military operations, but any context in the modern world where two independent organizations need to collaborate together for a shared goal. In this age of globalization, the research in this book becomes of unprecedented importance, not only for the military, where most stable and advance techniques are required, but also for society at large, which also demands constant improvement in network science.

The book presents a broad overview of emerging smart grid technologies and communication systems, offering a helpful guide for future research in the field of electrical engineering and communication engineering. It explores recent advances in several computing technologies and their performance evaluation, and addresses a wide range of topics, such as the essentials of smart grids for fifth generation (5G) communication systems. It also elaborates the role of emerging communication systems such as 5G, internet of things (IoT), IEEE 802.15.4 and cognitive radio networks in smart grids. The book includes detailed surveys and case studies on current trends in smart grid systems and communications for smart metering and monitoring, smart grid energy storage systems, modulations and waveforms for 5G networks. As such, it will be of interest to practitioners and researchers in the field of smart grid and communication infrastructures alike.

Data Communications and Networks uses a top-down, Internet-focussed approach to tackle the problem of communication system design. An integrated approach is taken to networks and data communications, with an emphasis that starts from the top level requirements and works downwards, describing how such requirements are fulfilled by lower layers of the transmission chain. While the book contains sufficient detail to provide an excellent foundation, clarity is paramount and care is taken not to swamp the reader with information to the point where the underlying concepts are obscured.

The Internet is used as the principle example of a communication system, allowing the reader to follow the system from the application layers, with source coding and security, through the network, with naming and routing algorithms, down to transport and physical aspects of a communication system. Modern techniques such as mobile radio, Voice over IP, and ASDL, are covered, while more traditional aspects such as circuit switching, which still form a significant part of current systems, are not overlooked.

By providing a technical introduction and including application examples, this text will have significant appeal to final year students, postgraduates and professionals with a science or engineering background wishing to gain a basic understanding of the key concepts behind data communications engineering.

Addresses innovations in technology relating to the energy efficiency of a wide variety of contemporary computer systems and networks With concerns about global energy consumption at an all-time high, improving computer networks energy efficiency is becoming an increasingly important topic. Large-Scale Distributed Systems and Energy Efficiency: A Holistic View addresses innovations in technology relating to the energy efficiency of a wide variety of contemporary computer systems and networks. After an introductory overview of the energy demands of current Information and Communications Technology (ICT), individual chapters offer in-depth analyses of such topics as cloud computing, green networking (both wired and wireless), mobile computing, power modeling, the rise of green data centers and high-performance computing, resource allocation, and energy efficiency in peer-to-peer (P2P) computing networks. Discusses measurement and modeling of the energy consumption method Includes methods for energy consumption reduction in diverse computing environments Features a variety of case studies and examples of energy reduction and assessment Timely and important, Large-Scale Distributed Systems and Energy Efficiency is an invaluable resource for ways of increasing the energy efficiency of computing systems and networks while simultaneously reducing the carbon footprint.

This thesis focuses on the design and use of software defined networking (SDN) in residential Internet service providers (ISPs), as well as innovative operational models that can be incorporated in broadband ecosystems. Though SDN addresses the challenges for bundled best-effort service provided by broadband operators for users, it does not distinguish between the different types of applications (video streaming, web-browsing, and large file transfers), nor does it cater to the varying needs of different household devices (entertainment tablets, work laptops, or connected appliances). This is a problem for end-users, who want to differentiate between applications and devices; for content providers (CPs), who want to exercise control over streams of high monetary value; and for Internet service providers (ISPs), who have to accommodate growing traffic volumes without additional revenues. This book develops a series of solution techniques that use SDN to find an optimal balance between the competing requirements of end-users, ISPs, and CPs. In addition to the design and discussions of various architectures, it provides technical details on real-world system implementations and prototypes. As such, it offers a valuable resource for researchers, network architects, network strategists, developers, and all other readers seeking to learn more about the practical value of SDN in future ISP networks.

Part one looks at delay-tolerant network architectures and platforms including DTN for satellite communications and deep-space communications, underwater networks, networks in developing countries, vehicular networks and emergency communications. Part two covers delay-tolerant network routing, including issues such as congestion control, naming, addressing and interoperability. Part three explores services and applications in delay-tolerant networks, such as web browsing, social networking and data streaming. Part four discusses enhancing the performance, reliability, privacy and security of delay-tolerant networks. Chapters cover resource sharing, simulation and modeling and testbeds.

Network-dependent companies are excited by the benefits promised by the virtual private network, including lower costs, greater flexibility, and improvements in connectivity. But they also have questions: What benefits are real? How can they be measured? What are the expenses and the dangers?

Virtual Private Networks: Making the Right Connection is an intelligent introduction written especially for business and IT professionals who want a realistic assessment of what a VPN can provide for their organizations. Covering advantages and risks, this book expands your understanding of what you can do with a VPN, while detailing all that implementing it will demand of you. With its help, you'll find your way through VPN hype to the answers you need to make sound decisions.
* Thoroughly explains VPN concepts and technologies, and examines the potential of VPNs as intranets, extranets, and remote access solutions.
* Covers essential VPN topics like tunneling, encapsulation, encryption, security, and protocols.
* Provides detailed points of comparison between typical VPN costs and the costs of maintaining traditional WANs.
* Offers frank consideration of the hidden costs and risks sometimes associated with VPNs, helping you decide if a VPN is right for you.
* Lists and assesses the software and hardware products you may need to implement a VPN.
* Discusses both Internet-based VPNs and VPN services offered by providers of "private" ATM and frame relay networks, detailing the pros and cons of each.

"By 2008, some 2 billion people will be using mobile phones and devices, in many cases to access advanced data services. Against this backdrop, the need for efficient and effective network design will be critical to the success of increasingly complex mobile networks."

"Simon Beresford-Wylie (SVP, Nokia Networks)"

With the complexity of the cellular networks increasing day by day, a deeper understanding of the design and performance of end-to-end cellular networks is required. Moreover, all the types of networks from 2G-2.5G-3G seem to co-exist. "Fundamentals of" "Cellular Network Planning and Optimisation" covers end-to-end network planning and optimisation aspects from second generation GSM to third generation WCDMA networks including GPRS and EDGE networks. All the sub-systems of the network i.e. radio network, transmission network and core network have been covered with focus on both practical and theoretical issues. By bringing all these concepts under one cover, this book becomes essential reading for the network design engineers working either with cellular service vendors or operators, experts/scientists working on end-to-end issues and undergraduate/post-graduate students.

Key Highlights: Distinctly divided into four parts: 2G (GSM), 2.5G (GPRS & EDGE), 3G (WCDMA) and introduction to 4G (OFDM, ALL-IP, WLAN Overview) respectivelyEach part focuses on the radio, transmission and core networks.Concentrates on cellular network planning process and explains the underlying principles behind the planning and optimizing of the cellular networks.

The text will serve as a handbook for anyone engaged in the study, design, deployment and business of cellular networks.

This book proposes that usage-based charging schemes are essential to generate the incentives necessary for efficient operation of multiservice networks. The rapid development of network technology is enabling sophisticated new services and applications which demand new charging models. The same technology provides the means to operate the right charging schemes.Some of the work done in the European collaborative project CA$hMAN (Charging and Accounting Schemes in Multiservice ATM Networks). This project combined performance and economic models of network resource usage and cutomer utility to construct simple but effective charging schemes which were implemented and trialled in an advanced management platform.

IT technology engineering changes everyday life, especially in Computing and Communications. The goal of this book is to further explore the theoretical and practical issues of Future Computing and Communications. It also aims to foster new ideas and collaboration between researchers and practitioners.

Introduction: Historical Perspective. Definitions and Dependencies. Prerequisite Knowledge Areas: User Capabilities and Limitations. Computer Applications and Tasks. Computer Capabilities and Limitations. Interaction Characteristics and Options. Representation Models and Methods. Supportive Tools and Techniques. Design and Development: Design Terms and Decision Constructs. Design Approaches and Methods. Design Objects, Modules, and Models. Special-Purpose Designs: Network-Oriented Design. Adaptive Design. Index.

Sustaining a competitive edge in today's business world requires innovative approaches to product, service, and management systems design and performance. Advances in computing technologies have presented managers with additional challenges as well as further opportunities to enhance their business models Business Transformation and Sustainability through Cloud System Implementation presents novel computing technologies designed for use in business and corporate environments, enabling managers and associates to make the most of the technologies at their disposal. This premier reference work seeks to alert firm management professionals and researchers to the potential risks and benefits associated with emerging technologies and guide firms on the proper selection, maintenance, and use of Web-based computing systems.

This proceedings volume highlights a selection of papers presented at the Sixth International Conference on High Performance Scientific Computing, which took place in Hanoi, Vietnam on March 16-20, 2015. The conference was jointly organized by the Heidelberg Institute of Theoretical Studies (HITS), the Institute of Mathematics of the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST), the Interdisciplinary Center for Scientific Computing (IWR) at Heidelberg University, and the Vietnam Institute for Advanced Study in Mathematics, Ministry of Education The contributions cover a broad, interdisciplinary spectrum of scientific computing and showcase recent advances in theory, methods, and practical applications. Subjects covered numerical simulation, methods for optimization and control, parallel computing, and software development, as well as the applications of scientific computing in physics, mechanics, biomechanics and robotics, material science, hydrology, biotechnology, medicine, transport, scheduling, and industry.

This book provides formal and informal definitions and taxonomies for self-aware computing systems, and explains how self-aware computing relates to many existing subfields of computer science, especially software engineering. It describes architectures and algorithms for self-aware systems as well as the benefits and pitfalls of self-awareness, and reviews much of the latest relevant research across a wide array of disciplines, including open research challenges. The chapters of this book are organized into five parts: Introduction, System Architectures, Methods and Algorithms, Applications and Case Studies, and Outlook. Part I offers an introduction that defines self-aware computing systems from multiple perspectives, and establishes a formal definition, a taxonomy and a set of reference scenarios that help to unify the remaining chapters. Next, Part II explores architectures for self-aware computing systems, such as generic concepts and notations that allow a wide range of self-aware system architectures to be described and compared with both isolated and interacting systems. It also reviews the current state of reference architectures, architectural frameworks, and languages for self-aware systems. Part III focuses on methods and algorithms for self-aware computing systems by addressing issues pertaining to system design, like modeling, synthesis and verification. It also examines topics such as adaptation, benchmarks and metrics. Part IV then presents applications and case studies in various domains including cloud computing, data centers, cyber-physical systems, and the degree to which self-aware computing approaches have been adopted within those domains. Lastly, Part V surveys open challenges and future research directions for self-aware computing systems. It can be used as a handbook for professionals and researchers working in areas related to self-aware computing, and can also serve as an advanced textbook for lecturers and postgraduate students studying subjects like advanced software engineering, autonomic computing, self-adaptive systems, and data-center resource management. Each chapter is largely self-contained, and offers plenty of references for anyone wishing to pursue the topic more deeply.